Government has condemned consumers to higher bills by announcing today that it will not proceed with the zero carbon Allowable Solutions carbon offsetting scheme, or the proposed 2016 increase in on-site energy efficiency standards for new homes

Dave Sowden, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Association said:

“Industry has been disappointed time and time again by the Government’s lack of ambition on Zero Carbon Homes Policy and now a further backward step has been taken.

“Disappointed by the Part L amendments implemented in April 2014 which committed to only a 6% improvement in new domestic homes on 2010 carbon compliance. This lower option was used instead of the preferred 26% improvement, the halfway point to ZCH homes in 2016.

“Disappointed in June 2014, when the 2016 target was changed to reduce emissions by 44% on 2006 levels – actually only the same as the halfway point referred to above – and allowing developers to ‘make up’ the rest of the carbon reductions through ‘Allowable Solutions’.

“Now we are told that neither the Allowable Solution scheme nor the proposed energy efficiency improvements will be taken forward in 2016.

“The Government’s commitment to Zero Carbon Homes was intended to create a pathway to zero carbon buildings. Albeit ambitious, this was an achievable target that industry had the ability to deliver if the Government had ever provided certainty.

“This failure to set a long-term vision for energy efficiency in buildings will result in higher fuel bills for consumers and also a huge bill for the future Governments dealing with retrofit improvements to poorly functioning buildings.”